Head-rest.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

J. D. SMOGK. HEAD REST APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 26. 1902.

.19 MODEL.

UNITED ,TATES JASPER D. SMOCK, OF TERR-E HAUTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PETER PAUL MISCHLER, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

HEAD-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent N 0. 723,323, datedMarch 24, 1903. Application filed June 26. 1902. Serial No. 113,803. (No model.)

Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Head= Rest, of which thefollowing is a specification. My invention relates to that class of headrests whereby a means is provided for raising and supporting the head and upper portion of the body of a personreclining on a bed to a sitting position; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a means whereby the head and upper portion of the body of an invalid or other person reclining upon a bed may be easily raised from a horizontal position to a sitting position and supported in such position; second, to provide a headrest for such purpose which can be attached to any ordinary bed-frame or other similar object, and, third, to provide a head-rest which will have a; lifting power, and thereby save the person reclining upon the same or the nurse at the bedside from lifting the body to an inclined or sitting position. I attain these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of theheadrest. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the headrest, showing the head-rest adjusted in a raised position and attached to a bed-frame. Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The letter A indicates a metallic framework, which consists oftwo side bars a. and a and a movable head-rest'b, consisting of a metallic bar bent U shape, the extreme ends of which have movable connection with the respective forward ends of the side bars a and a, as set forth more fully hereinafter. The side bars aand a consist of metallic bars the forward ends of which have movable connection with the movable head-rest b and the rear ends of which project backward behind the foot-posts of a bed Bor other object upon which the same are mounted. The forward ends of the bars a and a are perforated for the purpose of receiving pivots 19, whereby the side bars are pivotally connected with the respective -ends of the U -shaped movable head-rest b.

The movable head-rest b is'constructed of angle-iron bent U. shape,and the ends of the arms I) and 5 project upontheinner side of and are pivotally connected with the side bars a and a, respective1y, by means of the pivots 19, thereby forming a hinge-like joint therewith. The movable head-rest Z) is proof whichis'enlarged, rounded, and toothed for the purpose of engaging, by means of the teeth thereon, the hereinafter described lever f.

The forward or straight portion of the block 6 is perforated for the purpose of receiving the bolts 71 and 7 whereby the blocks d and e are firmly attached to the arms 6 and b of the movable head-rest b. The toothed portion of the blocks e projects backward and laps over the outside of the side bars a and a. A metallic leverf ispivotally attached to the outer side of each of the side bars a and a/and consists of an S-shaped bar, the forward or upper end of which is provided with two prongs or pawls n and '11,, adapted to engage the teethupon the block e, and the opposite or lower end of which is provided with a slot 3, adapted to receive the crank-shaft g, hereinafter de scribed. A hanger-h, consisting of a metallic bar, is mounted upon the outer side of each of the side bars a and a by means of bolts '1' and are bent, as shown in the drawings, to rest upon a block 25, which rests upon the side rails of the bed-frame B and is adapted to support said hanger. The hangers project upward from the block if and support from their extreme upper ends the side bars a and a, and the opposite ends of the hangersproject downward below and outside of the side rails of the bed-frame and are adapted to receive and support the ends of thecrank-shaft g. A crank-shaft g is supported transversely under the bed-frame B by the two hangers h and bent U-shaped near either end for the purpose of serving as cranks, whereby the levers f are operated, through slots 8 of which the bent portions of the shaft passes. A handlej is attached stationary to one or both ends of the crank-shaft for the purpose of operating the same.

The extreme rear ends of the two side bars CL and a are perforated for the purpose of receiving a shaft 1%, which consists of a metallic rod provided with a crank-handle V upon one or both ends and with two ratchet spools to, which are keyed to the shaft. A metallic pawl 00 is mounted upon the inner side of each of the two side bars a and a, and are adapted to engage and lock the ratchetspools w.

A spiral spring-loop u is mounted about midway of each of the arms I) and b" of the movable head-rest for the purpose of supporting a cable g, which passes therethrough. The cables y are attached to the arms I) and 0 near the upper ends thereof, pass through the loops u, and are attached at their opposite ends to the forward ends of spiral springs 2', which are mounted upon or wound around the side bars a and a. The springs :5 are free to move lengthwise of the side bars, and their rear ends are attached to cables y, the other ends of which are attached to the ratchetspools w upon the shaft m.

The purpose of the cables y and y and the springs z is to raise the movable head-rest b by the tension of the springs, and the purpose of the ratchet-spools w upon the shaft on is to increase and decrease the tension of the springs z to suit varying loads upon the headrest.

The usual form of bed-springs, slats, or other similar supports may be placed upon the bed-frame B, resting below the framework of my invention, and a mattress of any of the usual types may be laid upon the same.

To operate my invention, it is only necessary to release the prongs n of the levers f from the teeth of the blocks e, when the springs z and cables y and y will draw the movable head-rest b to an upright or inclined position, together with the mattress and upper portion of a body thereon. When the head-rest is raised sufficiently, the levers f are set so that the prongs n will engage the teeth of the blocks 6 and lock the head-rest in such position. To lower the movable headrest and the load thereon, the levers f are released from the toothed block e, and the weight of the load upon the movable headrest, together with slight pressure thereon, will force the same downward to a horizontal or normal position. If the load or body to be lifted upon the head-rest is heavy, the tension of the spring is strengthened by winding the cable 3 upon the ratchet-spool by means of the cran k-handle V, and the tension may be lessened by the reverse action of the ratchetspool.

The handle j, which operates the crankshaft-g, projects upward upon the outer side of the bed-frame and may be operated either by a person reclining upon the bed or by a bystander.

Having described my invention and its application, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a head-rest, the combination, with the side bars a and a, the hangers h adapted to support the side bars upon the side rails of a bed-frame, the movable head-rest I) having arms I) and b in movable connection with the side bars a and a, and provided with lacing Z, the toothed blocks e, mounted upon the arms b and b and having means to engage the prongs of the lever f, the pronged levers f mounted upon the side bars a and a and in operative connection with the crank-shaft g, said shaft being supported by the hangers h and adapted to operate the levers f, the spring-loops u, mounted upon the arms I) and b, the cables y and y and the springs 2, adapted together to raise the movable headrest, the shaft m and-ratchet-spools, supported by the rear ends of the side bars a and a, and the pawls m, adapted to lock the ratchetspools, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JASPER D. SMOCK. Witnesses:

SYDNEY B. DAVIS, PETER P. MISCHLER. 

